Legally Blonde

My Beauty Blog

Lasers Aim To Uncover Those Pre-Baby Abs

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An April 2007 survey by KRC Research showed that 67 percent of new mothers would rather regain their pre-baby body than their pre-baby sex life. To the men out there, we’re sorry, but it’s true. Whether it’s the stretch marks that just won’t fade into oblivion or those last few pounds that just won’t melt away, more and more young mothers are chasing the “yummy mummy” Holy Grail right into the plastic surgeon’s waiting room. And the procedures are getting better and better at correcting the problems these women have developed during pregnancy from loose belly skin to varicose veins. In addition to breast lifts and tummy tucks, today’s moms are trying something new – the latest laser treatments.

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So maybe you’re not ready to look like your mother just yet (Yes, we know she’s a beautiful woman and a beautiful person, but really, you’re just too young to look like that.) And it’s not just vanity or celebrity envy driving this trend. Pregnancy wreaks havoc on your body with all sorts of physical and hormonal complications. And if you’ve had your baby in your 30s it can be even more traumatic. It’s not about changing who you are – it’s about reclaiming who you are. You’re a mother now and you work hard for your family, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the body and the skin you worked so hard for before and even during your pregnancy.

Let’s take a closer look at a few of the more popular laser treatments:

Skin-Tightening

If the issue you are facing is excess skin from your pregnancy that just won’t snap back into shape no matter what you do, then perhaps a laser skin-tightening procedure is for you. There are several different brand name treatments with varying costs between $1500 and $5000. Although the technologies are different, the basic principle is that the laser penetrates deep into the skin and heats the collagen causing the skin to contract and regain its shape. Multiple treatments may be needed for some areas. This treatment is virtually pain-free and non-invasive – especially when compared to the rigors of liposuction or a traditional tummy tuck. Laser skin-tightening sessions are out-patient procedures where you can return to work almost immediately. An added bonus is that these types of lasers also work well to lighten and even remove stretch marks.

Laser Liposuction

The other major type of body-defining laser therapy is laser liposuction. Instead of the invasive probing and bruising associated with traditional liposuction, laser lipo uses (you guessed it) a laser to heat and dissolve the fat cells inside your body. A small laser fiber roughly 1mm in diameter is inserted into the body through a small flexible tube called a cannula. The liquefied fat is then drained through the various insertion points. Recovery from laser lipo is less than a third the time needed to recover from a traditional lipo procedure. In addition, the use of the laser also firms and tightens the skin in the same way as the surface laser treatments, giving you not only less fat deposits but also no loose skin to worry about after the fact.

Whether your pregnancy put you through the wringer or you just need a little help firming up the skin on your belly if you’ve got the cash, one of these procedures could be right for you.

Learn Secrets To Sexy Hair

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Who says you have to covet the latest hairstyles being worn by your favorite celebrities? When you want a style that’s all your own it helps to know helpful hair tips and tricks that you can easily do at home. Whether it’s a simple ‘do for school or if you’ve got a big night planned, there are a couple of things you can add to your hair to make all heads turn.

Are you tired of your long and boring locks but don’t want a new haircut? Do something different by using traditional hairstyles – but add a twist. For example, a ponytail by itself can be pretty plain and even make you look like a kid. But with the right accessories and styling, you can sport a sexy ponytail that your friends will want to copy. To get a classy, sophisticated look, take a dab of pomade or hair wax and slick your hair back and away from your face.

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Depending on what look you’re going for, you can secure your ponytail high on your head for a sassy style or right at the nape of your neck for a more conservative, traditional look. Use a band that matches your hair color so it blends in. For a touch of style to your ponytail, try adding a large hair clip or rhinestone covered barrette.

Another great hairstyle for long hair is the dependable French Twist. This tried and true hairstyle can easily be done at home and spiced up with your own personal touch.

The best way to do your own French Twist involves the following:

  • Brush or comb your hair until it is completely smooth and free of flyaways. Create a loose ponytail and pull down a few strands to frame your face.
  • While holding your ponytail with both hands, start twisting. It doesn’t matter if it’s clockwise or counter-clockwise, whatever works for you. Twist your hair in two full rotations.
  • Hold your ponytail upright pointing up to the sky and fold the end of your ponytail down by tucking the end into space between your head and the beginning part of your ponytail.
  • As you tuck the end of your ponytail in, slowly roll your wadded-up ponytail to the left by gripping the seam between your ponytail and your head between your thumb and other fingers. Use your thumb to push the hair beneath while rolling the hair on top inside. Keep rolling and pushing until your hair feels secure and add bobby pins to keep your French Twist in place.

For gals with short to medium length hair, make the most of hair accessories. Crystals, hair ornaments, and clips can add just the right touch of glamour or funky style to your short ‘do. Crystal hair snaps give short hair a sleek and refined appearance. Don’t underestimate the use of a good headband either. All hair lengths can complete their look with the right headband—wide, skinny, plain, beaded, patterned – you can find the right kind for your needs. By using the right hair accessories and styles, your hair will be far from boring!

Learning Gym Lingo

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Going to a gym can be pretty intimidating, especially if you aren’t familiar with the atmosphere. To make yourself more comfortable and secure, it helps to know not only how things work but the lingo that comes with the territory. Once you know the way to communicate with others in the gym, you’ll enjoy your workout more and without fear of being the “new kid on the block.”

You may have heard of core training. This term means to exercise that works both the muscles of the abdomen and the lower back. Core training is needed in just about all sports and activities. So if you’re signing up for this type of workout, just know that you’ll get a lot out of it! Intervals involve periods of fast movement with high-intensity training with slower recovery periods. This process helps the body improve speed-wise as well as condition the body to adapt to various plateaus of strength and endurance. Those seeking a method of weight loss through exercise will want to concentrate on their intervals during each workout routine. A similar term related to core training is anaerobic training. This also uses fast-paced training such as sprinting. During anaerobic training, the supply of oxygen is quickly exhausted.

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The term aerobic is a commonly used one but not too many know the exact definition. Aerobic training increases the heart rate, as well as strengthens the heart and lungs. This type of exercise needs a lot of oxygen. Aerobic training is also known as cardiovascular training or simply, “cardio.” So anytime you hear any of these variations of the term, you’ll want to call to mind exercises such as cycling, swimming, running and rowing.

Warm up is one term that is pretty self-explanatory, yet is very important when it comes to anything physical. Warming up is a way to prepare your body for the upcoming fitness regimen. Doing a warm-up prior to working out serves to let the muscles and the heart get a head start. Just a few minutes of warming up can prevent the risk of injuries and allow for a smoother workout. The term “cool down” is similar to warming up, but instead of doing the simple stretches and exercises before starting your workout, the cooldown period happens after the workout is over.

During this time, the cooldown lets the heart slow down and allows waste products such as lactic acid (a common waste product that gathers in the muscles. Too much lactic acid can cause soreness) to be cleansed from the muscles. Not only is warming up essential to a good workout, so is rest. Yes, “rest” is part of the gym lingo. As the name implies, this is the period of time when you are resting and not working out. Rest can also refer to the days when you don’t normally go to the gym and work out. It is important to take short breaks in between your exercises in order to let your body reenergize.

When exercising, you’ll often hear people talking about repetitions, also called reps. This means the number of times you do a certain exercise. The term “sets” describes the number of times you perform a certain number of reps. Weight training is a common gym term as well but is generally referred to as resistance training. Training of this type involves free weights, resistance bands, and machines, among many others.

Let Him Dress You

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Every girl wonders what her guy thinks is sexy. Jeans or a skirt? Heels or sneakers? Bold or demure? Fun or mysterious? But odds are, when asked, the response from most guys is something to the effect of “you look good in everything.” At least it should be. If he doesn’t even give you that, get a new guy – there are more than 3 billion of them out there give or take a few million. But we digress. The problem with not knowing what clothes send your guy over the top is that when you want to do just that you’re shooting in the dark. If he thinks you’re irresistible in a tank top and sweats, then save the money on the six-inch heels and be comfortable. But if it’s high fashion that keeps his attention, you don’t want to show up in a pair of old jeans – no matter how good they make your butt look.

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We decided to take some of the guess work out of it and ask around. We found two things that surprised us. First, guys notice more in the world of fashion than they let on. And second, they really do have an opinion on what they like – they just need to see it know. We compiled the results and here are our top three recommendations for your closet based on what our guys had to say.

The Sundress

All our guys love the sundress. Not every one of them knew exactly what one was, but when faced with examples, they all approved. Whether light and cotton or dressed up for a night out, the sundress makes a big splash with the boys. The length – above the knee – certainly helps, but what seems to be the constant running through the feedback is that girls wearing sundresses have a hard time being anything other than happy. (Think about it; if you’re in a lousy mood, odds are you’re not reaching for the sundress.) Sundresses make us smile and when we smile, our boys melt – some even admit it. So in this case, the dress makes the mood and the combination turns heads.

The Heels

There were plenty of guys who said they were happy with girls in hoodies and jeans and loved it when their girls embraced their inner beauty without feeling the need to spend hours in hair and makeup before heading out to the grocery store. But (you did sense the “but” coming, didn’t you?) every last one of them admitted that there is just something over the top sexy about heels. High and strappy were two of the leading likes. He wants to see your feet and all the better when they’re wrapped up in something pretty. And while it isn’t exactly a groundbreaking discovery that guys like girls in heels, think of it as justification for your collection – and all the more reason to go shopping.

The Hats

Hats are somewhat overlooked by many women but, according to our guys, they shouldn’t be. Maybe it’s that the perfect hat can tie an entire look together. Or maybe it’s that by putting the eyes in a shadow a hat draws attention to the lips. Or maybe it’s just that guy like hats. Regardless, see what you have in your closet. The right slouchy hat can make a casual outfit a standout and a crisp retro-style hat with a short brim can take a club look to a whole new level. And as cliché, as it sounds, they still love the straw-cowboy-hat-at-the-beach look. Of course the two-piece and the tan help here too.

Kick The Baby Blues

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As a new mom, you are bombarded with new emotions, responsibilities and sleep deprivation not to mention the return to normalcy in your hormones and body. All this and much more lend themselves to what so many refer to as the baby blues. While these are often considered the less severe cousin to postpartum depression, they can be equally as scary and be trying while you’re experiencing them.

It is estimated that “although half of all women develop “baby blues” that lift after a few weeks, 13 percent experience postpartum depression that can last up to a year,” says Lauren B. Zoschnick, M.D. who is the medical director of the Livonia Health Center in Michigan. She adds that many women who do experience postpartum depression don’t begin to experience symptoms until months after the baby is born. This can be a result of returning to work under the stress of the added responsibility of a child and lack of sleep.

A recent study in Pediatrics states that these three questions are as effective in determining postpartum depression as a professional screening: Have you blamed yourself unnecessarily when things go wrong? Have you been anxious or worried without good reason? And have you felt irrationally scared or panicked? To help keep track of your mental well-being, take stock and answer these questions honestly every few weeks or if you sense that your mood may be changing.

For the almost undeniable bit of baby blues that all moms experience, here are a few strategies for kicking those blues and regaining your sense of self. Please remember that we’re talking about the mild case of blahs, not depression or if you’ve answered yes to any of the above questions. If you can line up a friend or family member to be your helper before the baby comes these tips will work even better for you.

Allow your designated helper to clean your toilets, wash some of the additional laundries, and watch the baby while you sleep. Now sleep! Allow yourself to nap. You need it and the baby needs you to be rested. When you wake up, take a long shower then do your hair and put on makeup as you normally did B.B. (Before Baby). If weather permits, pile you, baby and your friend in the car and go to the park for a walk. Even if it’s the dead of winter, step outside as often as you need to and take a deep breath. Fresh air will work wonders for you.

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Any of these small things done alone can help you kick the baby blues, combine them for an even bigger boost. You’ll be amazed what a swipe of mascara, a clean shirt or a walk to the mailbox can do for your overloaded brain.

Keep in mind that even if this is your second, third or fourth child, you may experience different postpartum emotions and symptoms with each child. Don’t fear any negative experiences you’ve had after previous pregnancies or dismiss any new challenges you’re having with later pregnancies. Preparation and honest communication with yourself, your spouse and your doctor are crucial to your good health and to your baby.